After heavy snowfall, thermometer plummets

It won't match the ferocity of the blizzard of 1978, but this week's winter blast has earned its place in the annals of unforgettable snow storms.

By Jef RietsmaJournal Correspondent

It won't match the ferocity of the blizzard of 1978, but this week's winter blast has earned its place in the annals of unforgettable snow storms.After digging out from a 14-inch blanket of snowfall that started Sunday, St. Joseph County residents braced for today's sub-zero temperature. The forecast calls for a high of 1 degree before a "warm up" — by comparison – of nearly 20 degrees is in Wednesday's forecast.Sheriff Brad Balk said much like the unforgettable January 1978 storm, St. Joseph County over the past few days received an exorbitant amount of snow followed immediately by a one-two punch of strong winds and a dangerous plunge in the temperature.The difference, he said, was the longevity of high winds 36 years ago.

"I was on the road until 2 in the morning (Monday) and the drifting was bad; I don't want to discount the severity of this storm but it really could have been worse," Balk said. "But what we had in 1978 was just unreal … drifts more than waist high on most of our main roads."A countywide snow emergency expired at 3 p.m. Monday, but Balk and Scott Hopkins, director of St. Joseph County's Emergency Management, said by no means does that mean people should resume their usual driving habits.They said drifting will continue and north-south roads are especially vulnerable to drifts and momentary white-out conditions.Hopkins said the countywide snow emergency is a good gauge to measure the severity of this week's storm. He said making the declaration is not done hastily, and takes place with input from county officials, including representatives from its road commission, sheriff's department and board of commissioners."The goal, of course, is to make sure the state, county and local municipalities have as few cars on the roads to contend with so they can get their job of clearing roadways done efficiently and safely," Hopkins said. "By 3 o'clock Monday afternoon, they had enough time to do what they could with the snow, but the drifting is still going to be an issue."Hopkins said he drove a long stretch of Shimmel Road Monday and on two occasions, he said he experienced total white outs."The scary thing about that is I had no idea what I was driving into," Hopkins said. "The V-shaped blades the road commission drivers have are good at breaking the drifts but they, too, experience those momentary white-out conditions."Hopkins suggested drivers slow down or even pull off to the side of the road and stop if they see an oncoming road commission truck using a V-blade.Chris Minger, director of operations for the St. Joseph County Road Commission, said the department's full lineup of 27 drivers was to return to work at 4 o'clock this morning to resume the task of clearing snow-drifted roadways.A two-man crew remained at the agency's Centreville headquarters overnight in case an emergency situation arose."It's pretty much stand-by mode, and if we get a call from the sheriff's department or ambulance service and they need us to hit a road out there right away, we've got them covered," he said.Echoing comments made by Hopkins, Minger said even with the snow emergency no longer in effect, motorists should think twice before venturing out in a non-emergency situation."That north-south road that looks pretty good and clear at the start will have some drifting … I guarantee it," said Minger, who recalled cutting his teeth on the job in the 1978 blizzard. "Just use common sense."Nick Shirripa, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation, said St. Joseph County's state routes – U.S. 12, U.S. 131, M-60, M-66, M-68 and M-219 – were serviced the past few days by as many as 10 trucks from the agency's Jones garage in Cass County.He said drivers were working 12-hour shifts to address snowfall on the more-than 80 miles of state roads in the county."At its worst moments (Sunday and Monday), the situation was the same as what you feel at home, after you've shoveled your driveway and you turn around and there's another coat of snow already down," Shirripa said.The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority expects to resume service today, following a rare day of suspending operations Monday. CTA director Steve Yorks said it marked the first time in his five-plus years with the agency that rides were suspended.He said clients who depend on the CTA for renal treatment will be given priority today."I'm hoping those who needed treatment (Monday) managed to find their way," he said. "We just didn't have the staff, our vans are two-wheel drive and there was no way we could get through some of the snow that was out there."Furthermore, he said, many of the medical facilities, clinics and common locations sought by CTA passengers were closed Monday.Though his store was not closed Monday, Jim Motycka, manager of the Harding's grocery in Three Rivers, said the store and West Michigan Avenue had something in common Monday."Next to no traffic," he said. "Nobody's out today … everyone's staying home."It was a different scene Saturday and Sunday, however, when staples were flying off the shelves. Milk, orange juice, bread, eggs, meat, water and fruit were at a premium Saturday, as shoppers paid heed to the storm warnings.With a trickle of customers Monday, Motycka said the most difficult task he faced was the drive to work."I live at the southwest end of Portage and that stretch of 131 south of Schoolcraft at 5 a.m. was quite a challenge," he said. "And then when I got to work, you should have seen the snow on the roof and the ice that had to be chipped away."All school districts in St. Joseph County, including the Intermediate School District and Glen Oaks Community College, had canceled today's classes by mid-afternoon Monday.